Music, part 2

If you havent noticed, the designs for this webpage is not the most complicated. Anyways, this page is about the music I listen to.

Genre-wise, I really have a lot. I can tolerate: country, hard metal/"regurgitating"(sp) music, rap. Especial favorites: acoustic rock-pop, modern rock, and a secret fetish for singalongable bubble pop and dance/techno with a beat.

Before becoming a Christian, I listend to stuff on the top 40 rotations, and buying CDs I'd never listen to just for one song. Nowadays, I keep up somewhat with the times, watching a little bit of MTV(2) and VH1, but as far as radio, keeping it tuned to WVFJ 93.3 and the Fish 104.7 As far as the Fish and 93.3, they could be better. They mainly have adult contemporary and pop-rock. I just think sometimes the secular top 40 stuff, as I term it, is too redundant. Once oyou listen to it in one day, you know the lyrics to all the songs (just exageratting a little). If I need to be caught up witht the times, I just need to listen to the radio for a day and I'll be caught up. Anyways...I might sound like a Cd review person, eventually I'll have that

Here are some bands, yes mainly Christian, that I like. Its not that I try to keep my self in a bubble, but musically, Christian music as an industry (which I try not to use) can match up with its secular counterparts. In no particular order, but along the lines of my favorite bands....

dctalk-early days of rap, which I'm not familiar with....Supernatural, one of my first Christian CDs, is awesome along with there other ones....I have seen them in concert, it rocked.....I coin them as more rock than pop (rock/pop), with each song in its own style

jars of clay-able to break through into the secular in '95 with Flood....their self-titled album is, in my opinion, plain old acoustic/fold....the next one, I'm not familiar with....then If I left the zoo experiments with differnt musical sounds....one thing I like about JoC is the poetic lyrics

superontes-basically a band-wagoner, I have found to love this great ska band ; thanks to Paul, I illegally own all their 4 albums-the newest, Loud and Clear, the one I've listened to the most, is more rock then ska-the heavy power chords on such songs as pandoras box and escape from reason, place a punch of energy into the already great music of the California band

third day-I recently saw this hometown ATL band-a great rock (w/southern twang)-acoustic-worship band.....I have only recently begun to appreciate Mac's great vocals and the musicians' abilities.(but of course, I do not mean to put the light on the musician, but on the Maker and the One to whom the songs are being made for)

Audio Adrenaline-they sure do live up to their name. I only became a fan recently, after aquiring Underdog. From what I hear, this is the more pop-rock then rock of their earlier days. Their rock guitar plus fun lyrics equal a great ear-satisifying combination.

Here are some specific albums that I recommend. They may be albums I've listened to over and over again, or a new band:

Set It Off by Thousand Foot Krutch: This is a fairly new band, coming out from our friends to the north, Canada. I think they had released indie CDs earlier, but this is the first album I've seen of them. I was at the local Family Christian Stores when I first heard this band. I listened to clips of all the songs, but the from the first listen, it didn't have an impact on me. Then one my friends, Josh S., purchased it and let me make a copy of it. It is awesome. Let me say that again, it is awesome. If you want a great alternative Christian music, TFK's album is where to start. Here is a description of them musically: rap/rock, mixed with pop-punk, heavy (not metal like) guitars, and non-harsh vocals that you can understand. Lets review the songs:

It starts of with some drums and the vocalist singing "Krutch is going to get this party started." The bass kicks in as TFK is ready to start rockin. "Puppet" starts off head-banging with the bass and electric. Lyrics are both rapped/yelled and sung in this song. "Superfly" has more rap to it but in the chorus, he yells it out with the electric in the background. Near the song, however, it moves more towards a "modern rock" atmosphere. This leads into the fourth track entitled "When in Doubt" which starts of with a light electric picking and the bass. About one minute into it, the infamous punkish guitar and vocals kick in. The spit-fire lyrics add to the adrenaline rushing mood of this song. "Rhime Animal" starts of with some turn table and more rappin lyrics. However, in the chorus, the heavy guitars kick in. "Unbelievable" should be familiar to many as TFK does a cover of ___________'s Unbelievable. I'm not sure who did the orginal, or how it sounded. The verses are filled with their rap lyrics. The pre chorus and chorus is more sung, and then the well-known "you're unbelievable." Track 6 is yet another energetic song. Number 7, "Up and Down", a little more on the harder side. With the heavy guitars supply an intro. The lyrics are more yelled to a slower rap (if that exists). "Come Along" is the other pop-punk-esque song on the album. "Small Town", starting off slowly, with just a melody line on the guitar and sung vocals, song number 9, takes a break from the albums fast pace. The chorus, has a modern rock feel to it when the "medium" (opposed to heavy) guitar comes in. The verse, however, keeps the soft atmosphere. The title track, "Set it Off", starts out with a bass line. Vocals being yelled, the song has a seemingly softer feel to it during the verse. The chorus sings "set it off" with the guitars back in. With some turntable action at the end, this song prevails with the bass and soft drums during the verse. "All the Way (Live)" comes next. The rap lyrics are back as a cool electric-bass line is being played. This has a funky feel to it. In the chorus, the distorted guitars make an entrance. The last track, number 12, "Lift It", is the softest of all the songs. Along the lines of a praise song, the lyrics are sung at a "normal" rate during the verse. Acoustic guitar and bass are present in the song. Near the end, electrics come in and what I think are light violins or some electronic of sort.

Well, there is the first review. DISCLAIMER:Please, I do not know all the music terms, so I may have mislabeled some. Go out and try the CD yourself. Ask me if you want to know places to obtain the album. Also, you noticed I didn't focus on the lyrical content as much as I did on the music side. First, I don't have TFK's liner notes, but also, I think you should listen to the lyrics yourself so you can make the decision. Maybe I'll do a review of the week, or whenever I find time to. Tell me your feed back and if this helped, thanks. Also, if there are any albums, Christian primarially (please, since I haven't listened to complete secular albums in a while), that you would either like me to review or tell you about, please tell me.

-J Lai 61901

The Latest Stuff

Hey, here I am going to showcase briefly some CDs, that I have recently listened to and like a lot. Try em out. Blue color means I really recommend them. More to come

RELIENT K-The Anatomy of Tongue and Cheek-whow is all i have to say....the funny, yet intriguing lyrics of this band with their sophomore album....genre of pop-punk, rock-pop

P.O.D.'s Satellite-All the hype is true about this highly acclaimed band. With achievments of landing videos on MTV's Total Request Live, P.O.D.'s rocks on this album. On Fundamental, it was a little too hard for me. However, Satellite, provides the right amount of heavy guitars, with distinct singing (yes singing, and a little screaming too), and a pinch here or two of reggae, and then of course rap.

Switchfoot's latest Learning to Breathe

Five Iron Frenzy's All the Hype Money Can Buy

Third Day's Offerings

Sonicflood's self titled album (please dont ask me the title of that)

Audio Adrenaline's Underdog

Supertones Loud and Clear (and all their other CDs)